XXVI. “It’s Mother!”

           TheirbeliefintheMagicwasanabidingthing.Afterthemorning’sincantationsColinsometimesgavethemMagiclectures.

           “Iliketodoit,”heexplained,“becausewhenIgrowupandmakegreatscientificdiscoveriesIshallbeobligedtolectureaboutthemandsothisispractise.IcanonlygiveshortlecturesnowbecauseIamveryyoung,andbesidesBenWeatherstaffwouldfeelasifhewereinchurchandhewouldgotosleep.”

           “Th’bestthingaboutlecturin’,”saidBen,“isthatachapcangetupan’sayaughthepleasesan’nootherchapcananswerhimback.Iwouldn’tbeagen’lecturin’abitmysel’sometimes.”

           ButwhenColinheldforthunderhistreeoldBenfixeddevouringeyesonhimandkeptthemthere.Helookedhimoverwithcriticalaffection.Itwasnotsomuchthelecturewhichinterestedhimasthelegswhichlookedstraighterandstrongereachday,theboyishheadwhichhelditselfupsowell,theoncesharpchinandhollowcheekswhichhadfilledandroundedoutandtheeyeswhichhadbeguntoholdthelightherememberedinanotherpair.SometimeswhenColinfeltBen’searnestgazemeantthathewasmuchimpressedhewonderedwhathewasreflectingonandoncewhenhehadseemedquiteentrancedhequestionedhim.

           “Whatareyouthinkingabout,BenWeatherstaff?”heasked.

           “Iwasthinkin’”answeredBen,“asI’dwarranttha’sgoneupthreeorfourpoundthisweek.Iwaslookin’attha’calvesan’tha’shoulders.I’dliketogettheeonapairo’scales.”

           “It’stheMagicand—andMrs.Sowerby’sbunsandmilkandthings,”saidColin.